Catch Up....

Again, I am sorry for the delay in posting.  I have noticed that I keep finding things to take my mind away from keeping up on things that I want to be better at.  I am setting a goal today to be better at doing things that matter and not focusing on the others.  I know that my family may want to be kept up on what is happing in our lives here in Vegas, so . . . I am going to try and be better.

Well since Brooke was blessed not much has really happened (sarcasm); Cody and Tessa's visit, 4th of July, Idaho Trip, Lance's first dentist appointment, Lance's 3rd Birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentines, 5 year Anniversary, Skyler's baptism, Idaho trip, family hike at Red Rock Canyon, Yuma trip and Easter.   So forewarning, this is probably going to be a long post because I am going to just try and get everything posted.

My brother Cody and his family came to visit us.  We went to the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay.

Fourth of July was spent with friends.

Lance also took swim lessons last summer and loved it.  He was very proud of himself when he got his certificate.

Our first Idaho trip was for Labor Day weekend.  We had a lot of fun with our families.  It is always a joy to see them.

Lance wanted to just hug Carter all the time.  Carter just put up with it.

Two Super Whys

Uncle Skyler trying to teach Brooke to crawl.

Felicia and Carter with Brooke.

Carter loves Brooke

Brooke showing off how flexible she is.

Felicia, Lance and Brooke

We were able to go the Bear Lake with Taylor's family.

  

My dad took Lance and the other grandkids fishing over by Indian Hills Elementary School.  My dad was able to get Lance to calm down for about 10 minutes, which is really hard to do.  Lance really enjoyed it.

 Dad talking to Lance and telling him what they were doing and that he had to be quiet for the fish.

Waiting and hoping the fish will bite, they didn't!

While we were there my sister, Nickole, took some more family pictures because most of the ones she got when she was in Vegas for the blessing didn't turn out.

 

We were also able to visit all of my grandparents.  All of my grandmas' health is really bad and they could probably go back to our Heavenly Father at any time.

Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Sparrow.  Grandma Sparrow's health has gotten a lot worse since this picture.

Great Grandma Mann (Brown)

Great Grandma June

Taylor and I booked a condo in Arizona our first summer here so after we got back from Idaho we went to Arizona to use the timeshare condo.  We really enjoyed it and are hoping that some day we can get one and be able to go on some fun vacations with our children.

Lance's first horse ride without me.

Lance did really well at his first dentist appointment.  We were really worried that he would scream.  Our dentist office doesn't like the parents to go back because kids get scared and will cling to the parent(s) and they can't do anything.  They did really well at explaining what they were doing and showed him how everything works, it was just what Lance needed.

Lance's Birthday was October 26 and so we invited a few of our friends to celebrate it with us.  Lance wanted everything to be Jake and the Neverland Pirates, his favorite show.

Lance dropped the cake, he had to help me bring it in.

Dominic and Lance opening presents.

Excited about what he got from the Currnuts

Opening his puzzles from Grandma Tammy & Grandpa Ken

Ashley, Lenae and Brooke

Lance and Taylor playing soccer.

Halloween was a fun experience this year because Lance started understanding what was going on.  He really enjoyed saying trick-or-treat even to those dressed up and walking around at our trunk-or-treat.  He is fun watching him understand what is going on even though it is my least favorite holiday.

Poor kid didn't take a nap, so he fell asleep on the way to trunk-or-treat.

Our family November tradition since we have moved here is to go to Aviation Nation air show at Nellis Air Force Base.  This year it was pretty cold, but we still enjoyed it.

Thanksgiving last year Taylor's family came down and we were lucky enough to get to see his brother Jordan as well, who came up from Oceanside, California where he was doing his MOS training for the Marines.  We also were invited to go to Taylor's aunt Laurals house for dinner.  We went with Taylor's family to Hoover Dam which was fun.  Lance loves his uncle Jordan.

This happens when Taylor's younger brother Skyler and Lance wake up before everyone, especially those who are sleeping downstairs.  We hang out in my bed.

Uncle Jordan helping out with Lance.

Unfortunately I think this is the only Christmas picture I have.  We did have a great Christmas but adjusting to having two children I think Taylor and I were a little distracted and didn't get any pictures.  

The kids and I went to the Bellagio gardens with our playgroup.

My parents arrived the day after Christmas to spend a couple of days with us.  I always enjoying having them here even though they might not come again since I put my dad to work on redoing my dining room furniture, which turned into just doing the table because it took a really long time to take off the finish to stain it and refinish it.  I love my table though.

We also aren't big in celebrating New Year's so we don't have any pictures.  We were lucky enough to be invited to my friends house for New Years but we had to leave early due to the kids.

February is always a busy month for Taylor and me.  February 7th is the anniversary of our first date, then there is Valentine's Day, Skyler's birthday, and our wedding anniversary.  This year we celebrated 10 years since our first date and our 5 year wedding anniversary.    This year our finances are tight so our presents were going up to Idaho and celebrate Skyler's birthday and baptism and then we decided to celebrate Brooke's 1st birthday six weeks early.  

Skyler asked Taylor to baptize him, which was really neat to see.  Taylor's dad confirmed Skyler afterwards.  It was a very emotional and special day with family and friends.  Lance surprised me when he saw the font and Taylor and Skyler in white he said, "Skyler get baptized."  I told him, "yes and daddy gets to do it and then Papa Mitch with give him a blessing to give him the Holy Ghost."  I am so glad that he somewhat understands what was happening.  After Skyler came up out of the water and the witnesses were letting Taylor know that it was good, Lance said loudly that Skyler did a good job.  We were blessed to hear Taylor's parents and grandparents bare their wonderful testimonies.  It is always amazing to hear other testimonies to help your own grow.

After we all got changed into our regular clothes we went sledding (which I don't have any pictures from this sledding trip) and to the Soda Springs Geyser.  Lance thought it was pretty cool but he couldn't stand still and slipped a few times and fell in a hole.

After this we went back to my in-laws and made dinner and relaxed until my parents got there to celebrate Brooke's birthday early with Browns.

Sunday we went to Pocatello to spend time with my family and we did another party for Brooke with my family.

While we were at my parents my dad really wanted to take Lance and his two cousins Lucas and Addison 4-wheeling and sledding.  They had so much fun.  Lance has asked us for a 4-wheeler (except he didn't know that is what it was called for awhile before any of this).

A couple of weeks ago we decided that we needed to get out and do something as a family so we decided to go for a hike at Red Rock Canyon, something we keep saying we are going to do but haven't, we finally did it and we really enjoyed it.

A week after this the kids and I went with my in-laws to Yuma to visit Taylor's grandparents that winter there.  We had a really good trip but by the end of it we were tired of hearing Lance and Skyler getting mad at each other.  (Common occurrence with a 3 year old and his 8 year old uncle.)

The ride in the car to Yuma.

The Yuma Territorial Prison Museum 

Lance didn't want to do these pictures but I made him and each one looks like remorse for doing something bad and getting caught.  I love this kid.

The goods I got from Mexico.

This picture was all done with spray paint and your ordinary garbage.  They do these on the strip here for a lot more then I paid for the frame and the picture.

Lance and Skyler trying to keep Brook happy the last 20-30 minutes from Vegas.  Skyler was singing Samuel the Laminate but to a different tune, I think.

Last but not least Easter.  We decided to dye eggs even though Lance doesn't like eggs.  Taylor and I have eaten a lot of eggs because of this, but it was fun.  We tried a new way that I saw on Pinterest using shaving cream and food coloring to give the eggs a marble look.  Lance thought it was really fun.

The finished product.

Brooke enjoying her first Peep.  I think I can say that she loved it.

Sorry for the extra long post but I figured I would do this instead of doing all of it individually because as we saw that took me a really long time to post each event since Brooke was born.  I will try to do better.  I will be posting random pics that like and things that didn't really fit into these special things.